A Revival of Orleans Square
Savannah could certainly use a restoration of the environs surrounding Orleans Square. The often overlooked square sits only two blocks from Chippewa Square, the approximate center of the city's core historic district. Orleans (named to commemorate the Battle of New Orleans) is still graced with the Champion-McAlpin (or Harper-Fowlkes) house, but has lost at least three other notable structures. The square's western half is a depressing combination of asphalt and 1970's architecture.
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| Orleans Square |
Prior to 1917, a stately home, the Bulloch Mansion, sat on the square's southwest trustees lot. This home was constructed in 1818/19, by the son and namesake of Georgia's first non-royal head of state, Archibald Bulloch, and designed by the city's then resident architect, William Jay.
Unfortunately, the Bulloch family's time in the house was short lived as the Great Savannah Fire of 1820 profoundly affected Mr. Bulloch's financial position, and shortly thereafter he was forced into relinquishing the home.
Almost one hundred years later, the Bulloch Mansion was razed amid the city's push for modernization and growth. It was replaced by a civic auditorium, which itself was later razed in the 1970's to make way for today's larger civic center complex. The actual Bulloch lot became apart of the center's parking area. Given the proven success of the city's squares and exquisite (i.e. pleasing) architecture, virtually all from before the modern era, the value of restoring to the city one of its finer residential properties should be easily recognized. But, who would take on the cost of such an undertaking, and for what purpose?
Its addition (restoration) to the city's renown inventory of beautifully crafted structures would be a welcomed contribution (important to the city's tourism industry), but that alone wouldn't justify using public/government funds for its reconstruction. If the Bulloch Mansion is to appear again on Orleans Square, there should exist a functional purpose for its reconstruction by a private entity.
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| First floor plan. |
Enter A Suitable Function
Missing from Savannah is a facility which chronicles the history of the Scots in Georgia, and/or the South. Georgia, perhaps more than any of the thirteen British colonies which later formed the United States, had a significant portion of its settlers come from Scotland. Whether on the state's frontiers or in Savannah, in economic, political or military affairs, interwoven in early Georgia history are names like Bulloch, McIntosh, McGillivray, Houston, Dunbar, MacKay, and Stewart.
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| St. Andrew's Hall, Savannah |
Lost in all of the colonial and early statehood history of Georgia is the story of the westward migration of the Scots to America, a period which incorporated both hardships and prosperity.
Most Georgians and visitors to Savannah are far more likely to associate the city with Ireland, due to the city's famous St. Patrick's Day parade. It is true that Ireland was the origin of many of Georgia's earliest residents, but not to the same extent as those who hailed from Scotland.
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| Library Ceiling |
It would be a most fitting use for a restored Bulloch Mansion to act as a town crier, of sorts, to herald the city's and state's and region's Scottish American history. Imagine the Scottish flag staffed in front of this elegant house on Orleans Square and the inquiries of the many tourists who come to Savannah.
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| The Archibald Bulloch Family |
The house was commissioned and first occupied by a member of one of Georgia's first families, Archibald Stobo Bulloch, whose father, Archibald, was a delegate to the Continental Congress and one of the state's first chief executives.
The builder's paternal grandfather, James Bulloch and great grand parents were Scottish born, two of whom, Archibald and Elizabeth Stobo, were among the settlers of the ill fated Darien on the Isthmus of Panama. His brother William held several offices, at all levels of government, including Mayor and U.S. Senator.
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| Mittie Bulloch Roosevelt |
The Scottish 'heritage' societies in Georgia and the South should relish an opportunity to have an audience of thousands each day. Together they should form a Southern Scottish-American Historical Society; interestingly I've yet to find a single Scottish-American historical society. There is a vast amount of Scottish-American stories to recount, memorabilia to display, published works to make available, antiques, portraits and maps with which to adorn the interior.
A Perfect Fit for Savannah
On average, there are over 15,000 over-night leisure travelers in Savannah each day. During their stay they meander through the center city and many come through Orleans Square. They tour house museums, enjoy public spaces, read a lot of plaques, dine and shop. And they particularly enjoy coming across something unique. The Bulloch House would not be just another house museum, it would be a Scottish-American History Museum. The exposure for any organization would be tremendous.
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| Library |
Heretofore the Scottish heritage groups have relied upon those interested to seek them out, having only a once a year weekend event, the Highland Games, to offer exposure. Establishing the Bulloch House as a headquarters, offers daily publicity, space for meetings, conferences, social events and space to store and display treasured memorabilia and archives.
Complete plans for the house may not have survived, but enough visual evidence exists to produce a nearly perfect duplication of the exterior, and there are enough photographs of the interior to do justice to it.
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| Northern Facade (McDonough St.) |
Along with the reconstruction, the city should restore the streets which originally surrounded the lot. Being that there is now some movement in constructing new venues for those functions now hosted in the city's Civic Center, it might present a convenient opportunity in conjunction with this project. Even should the Center's theater remain, its east-side entrance could easily accommodate a restoration of Jefferson Street.
There are certainly architects who are intimately familiar with Savannah's and Charleston's early 19th century buildings, their styles, construction methods and materials; a faithful reconstruction is definitely within reach.
Perhaps by 2019, the two hundredth anniversary of the house's original completion, it will grace Orleans Square again opposite the Champion-Harper house and be a center from which Scottish-Americans in Georgia can celebrate the state's tercentennial in 2033.
